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Newspaper
Ottawa Herald
Location
Ottawa, Kansas, United States of America
Date
Jun 20, 1978
Page
6
Bill Shelton recounts the Topeka showboat Whippoorwill being struck by a tornado. He and his girlfriend Bobbi Hillmer survive as 15 people die. He describes the moment of capsizing, pulling people from water, and aiding CPR while boats arrive. The ordeal emphasizes calm amid disaster and urgent rescue efforts.
The body of nine year old Melisa Wright of Topeka was recovered from Lake Pomona as divers completed a three day search, bringing the Whippoorwill Showboat accident death toll to fifteen. Authorities cited a mother instinct in locating other victims and noted limited damage to Pomona Dam aside from minor storm damage affecting ten campers and related property losses.
Ottawa assistant Civil Defense director Jean Phares criticized residents for ignoring Saturday night tornado warnings. She noted sirens in patrol cars and urged people to shelter in basements or public facilities, citing few porch lights. Revisions to shelter list include First Baptist Church hours and new shelters at Westminster United Presbyterian Church and Franklin County Courthouse basement.
Franklin County First District opens with filings from Carmen Peffly and Walt Artinger Republican candidates and Charles Burlingham Democrat. Don Yockey, though resident outside the district, filed and is on the ballot. his eligibility is questioned by clerk Laura Sutton. Yockey and Burlingham unavailable for comment. Peffly, 54, a longtime resident with real estate and retail experience, and Artinger, 81, a former hardware owner and WWII naval aviator, describe diverse backgrounds while RFD 2, Don Yockey, previously served in the third district.
Funeral plans concluded for ten victims of Saturday's lake boat tragedy at Lake Pomona. Families of remaining five victims arrange services elsewhere. Names include Sandra Vogel Wright and daughter Melissa Wright of Topeka, Grace Vogel, Charles Griffin, Tina Kramer, Mildred Lilly and Carolyn Hartwick, Norris Weiss, Judy Patterson, Pamela Nelson and others. Services span Topeka, Defiance, Quenemo, Wichita and nearby areas with dates this week.
A line of severe thunderstorms moves across Kansas with heavy rain, high winds, hail and some tornadoes. The Marais Des Cygnes River in Ottawa reaches 12.5 feet, still rising toward an expected crest under 20 feet. Rainfall totals include 3.3 inches in Ottawa and up to 3 inches elsewhere. city forecasts call for clear to partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures tonight through Wednesday.
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